THE NEW DOMINION'Procreating The Undivine'What I want to know is why such a talented bunch of guys are not signed to a major European label? The answer is something even one cannot ponder over, take for example their second album 'Procreating The Undivine', it is packed full of tasty Death Metal tracks with lashings of progressive riffs and melodic elements here and there, intertwining to give a sound that is totally unique and spews out comparisons with a whole host of similar-sounding Melodic Death bands. So imagine a harder and more progressive version of Scar Symmetry, you get the picture. Guaranteed to keep you headbanging until your head falls off, Dutch metal wielders The New Dominion are setting the trend for a new style of Death Metal, one that is unconventional and defies all traits and with 'Procreating The Undivine' firmly set in stone, there is nothing to stop this maniacal five-piece from cracking the face of Europe in half, they may not be well known but boy they have the ability to shake the international metal community of it's feet.

If there is one band in the Metalcore scope that does not fail to impress it's Asking Alexandria, sure they have only been going five years and to many that may seem a short time, but in honesty the lads from Yorkshire have excelled over that short period and as they unleash their third soul-crushing expeditionary album 'From Death To Destiny', the evidence is clear that they are the ultimate face of British Metalcore. Seemingly to ditch most of their over-complicated electronic music for a cleaner and yet more direct Metalcore sound, they do not lose their unique pattern of mixing unrelenting beats with sizzling riffs and violent vocals and in doing so reinvent their sound to a more brutal approach. Love it or hate it, 'From Death To Destiny' is the dog's bollocks and is without a doubt giving Asking Alexandria the seal of approval as one of the nation's favorite current metal bands.

It's always interesting to see one nationality take musical interest in another but seriously Argentinian's playing Scottish style metal? Each to their own. Skiltron is not exactly well known in the global scene but have dominated the South American and European regions and with their latest offering 'Into The Battleground' firmly standing out the ground, this could be Argentina's finest moment in metal history. 'Into The Battleground' broods character and charm in every department, with traditional bagpipes setting the Celtic tune and the use of a bouzouki to add more flavor to the folk sound whilst the basic metal instruments add that final blow to this musical masterpiece. Now if you ever thought Celtic Metal was best done by Celtic nations, once this was proven wrong with Switzerland's Eluveitie and now Argentina's Skiltron has defied that logic and so watch this space because it would seem Skiltron are sure to become a globally recognized band.

In recent years Mexico has vastly become a grandstand for delivering sensational internationally unknown power metal, symphonic metal and Gothic metal bands and projects. Hoping to make a break is Anna Fiori and her fellow Mexican compatriots as they unleash the groundbreaking album 'Magna Mater'. Regardless of them singing in Spanish, the quintet produce a dramatic and emphatic style of Symphonic Power Metal that wallows in the shadows of bands like Within Temptation. Now if this album was a book series it would be the Lord of The Rings for one reason only, it takes you on a magical adventure that you would need to fully embrace if you want to get the full feeling of the power behind this brilliant ensemble. It may be early days for the Mexican group but I distinctly feel they will break into the Spanish metal scene very soon, 'Magna Mater' is just the start of something rather epic and is sure to push the band forward onto dreams-becoming-reality.

Download This: "Lo Que Se Va"

For Fans of: Within Temptation, Nightwish (early), and Evanescence.

[8] RHYS STEVENSON

FAINTEST HOPE'While There's Life'Formerly known as Deathabalone, the four Japanese musicians have reinvented themselves under the new name Faintest Hope and consequently have unleashed a belter release, 'While There's Life' is the new sound of the band and it spews out greater solidarity of their style of Melodic Death Metal. Cursing and downright gritty, 'While There's Life' is sure to give the band the lift they need to expand out of their home land. Faintest Hope definitely is a lot more cleaner and more melodic than Deathabalone, Miho's vocals have dramatically improved and can be likened to vocalists like Jenni from French Cyber Death Metal band Noein. 'While There's Life' packs a powerful punch and will appeal to many metal fans alike, there certainly seems to be a greater level of aggression in the music itself and with the vocals as venomous as they are, there is no reason why Faintest Hope cannot go far.

Download This: "Blind Faith"

For Fans of: Noein, Scar Symmetry, Omnium Gatherum

[8] RHYS STEVENSON

DESTROYERS OF ALL'Into The Fire'Already causing a storm in their native land of Portugal, Groove / Death / Thrash merchants Destroyers Of All provide hell in epic proportions when delivering their debut EP 'Into The Fire', rampaging at a furious speed that makes Cristiano Ronaldo look like a lame duck who cannot get out of first gear, however it is not all merry as at times the music is questionable, in specific the sudden change of time signatures that could easily leave some metalheads in a groove when realistically it's Thrash Metal playing at that specific time, you get the idea. Remarkably though the overall production of the EP and overall sound is paramount, the feeling this could be the next biggest export out of Portugal is clear as daylight. When you have a release that features menacing riffs, crushing drumming and face-smashing vocals that brood in Melodic Death, Groove, and Thrash Metal elements, something is bound to go off... with an almighty explosion.

Download This: "M4"

For Fans of: DevilDriver, Lamb of God, Cavalera Conspiracy, Five Finger Death Punch

[8.5] RHYS STEVENSON

Багира (Bagira)АмнезияIt's always tricky to listen to metal music when the lyrics are non-English, on the other hand it does offer an interesting way to learn that language and in this instance Russian is that language. Two years ago the classic Heavy metal group Багира (Bagira) unveiled their debut album Амнезия and as you indulge in the flavors of this Tatarstan-based metal band you get the sense that they will be a big hit in Eastern Europe, not to mention Russia itself. Амнезия may prove a challenge to those who do not know Russian but beyond the language barrier is a band who delivers everything you would expect from a Heavy Metal album: majestic vocals delivered by the sensational Alla Bulgakova, whilst the erotic riffs shed out by guitarist Alexander Shadrov and bassist Ildar Nigmatullin are backed up by solidarity of the drumming by Ruslan Kamalov. Make no mistake they may not be well known, but Christ is this album an absolute gem, a must have for any fan of classic metal.

Now I know what you are thinking, not another Death / Thrash band that wants to growl as much as they can or play as fast as they can, well if you thought that you would be mistaken. Norway's Repulsive Aggression may have taken five years to finally deliver a debut album, but boy does 'Conflagration' pay off the time dividends. Merciless riffs crush your senses into a rotten pulp and whilst you try to recover you are bowled down once again through the menacing drumming and venomous vocals spewing out of this Norwegian technical six-legged machine. 'Conflagration' is the sound of total annihilation in musical form and with the lads signed already, Europe better prepare for what could be perceived as Norway's next biggest export. Repulsive Aggression may coincidentally describe the fury and agility behind their music, but until you listen to them, your heaviest music might as well be One Direction, because this album is the s**t.

Download This: "Predator"

For Fans of: Carnal Forge, Revocation, Sepultura

[9] RHYS STEVENSON

INNER NOCTURNE'Gates To Immortality'Now you would ideally have to have an acquired taste in metal to fully appreciate this style of music, simply because one-man project Inner Nocturne conjures up a rather disturbed form of Atmospheric Black Metal on the debut album 'Gates To Immortality'. The product of Polish musician Tomasz Grzelak is one of contrasting proportions, on one hand you have blackened vocals that engulf the atmosphere with the unholiest of shrieking and low-tuned growling and on the other hand you have he music that delinquently delivers a somewhat astrological or space and time feel to the music, which ideally makes this project a one of a kind because of the interesting choice of lyrics and accompanying music and so what you can expect from 'Gates To Immortality' is basically the music of Satyricon, the lyrics of Scar Symmetry and the atmosphere of Shade Empire all warped into one album.

Ah Italian Gothic Metal, never ever does the genre fail to disappoint. This time the sextet Synful Ira make their first steps with a rather magical debut album that was released last year. 'Between Hope & Fear' delivers the angelic vocals you would expect with some rather inspirational riffs and percussion in the background. On a separate note, the fact being this band has two females in the band is somewhat different and yet whilst one of them is a vocalist and the other a guitarist, there are no male vocals thankfully. 'Between Hope & Fear' is a must have for anyone who loves their Gothic Metal to be epic, full of musical drama and sensational atmosphere. No they are not another Lacuna Coil, in fact they are the natural successor to the veterans of Italian Gothic Metal.